Is it wise to stop my meds after 14 succesful years of therapy for initial psychosis, anxiety and depression?


Question:
Early diagnostic label either psychotic depression/anxiety or more likely schizo-affective disorder. I have been on Stelazine 5mg/day for 14 years, and recently on Seruquel 350mg/day to replace Stelazine. I also have been on a daily anti-depressive for 14 years currently Cipramil/Cipram. Initial psychosis disappeared weeks after treatment began and has never reappeared. Clinical depression has disappeared and anxiety with psychological features e.g. significant phobia - penis envy/fear & general anxiety is now normal . Clinical severity and symptoms have disappeared and any residual effects are gone. I am now clear thinking and feeling, and am no longer obsessive. I now consider myself healthy yet attempts to come off my meds cold turkey as recent as March 2006 did not last long term - 10 days at the most. Throughout the summer 2006 I gradually tapered myself down to taking 'crumbs' of all the different meds. But when teaching began, Ist week in September I panicked and resumed in full

Answers:
Never stop taking drugs for mental illness cold turkey.

I don't believe that any schizophrenia type disorders ever really go away. They can be suppressed and controlled with medication, as you know, but will most likely be back if you go off the meds. You could start taking a smaller dose of medication for this and see how you handle it, but never ever ever stop taking an anti-psychotic cold turkey.
To go off the meds for depression/anxiety, you'll need to taper down. Your doctor will tell you how you can do this best.

The smartest, safest thing you can do is talk to your doctor so that he/she can prescribe a lower dosage of the anti-psychotic and put you on a plan for going off the anti-depressant.
Did they put you on a tapering schedule? It you have been on meds for the long, you may need to have you dosages cut in half and have it done over a couple of months. I don't think cold turkey is a good way to come off any antidepressants or anti psychotic.


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